What defines our people: the phenomenon of the genius Mikhail Sholokhov was discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On May 24, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a meeting dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Sholokhov — one of the most outstanding Russian writers of the 20th century. Experts discussed the life and creative path of the Nobel Prize laureate in literature, as well as the influence of his works on Russian culture.

In the format of an open dialogue, participants turned to the key works of the writer: the epic "And Quiet Flows the Don," revealing the tragedy of the Cossacks during the revolution; the novel "Virgin Soil Upturned;" war prose, including the novel "They Fought for Their Country;" and the poignant story "The Fate of a Man."

The speakers analyzed "And Quiet Flows the Don" — a great cultural phenomenon that has left a mark on the consciousness of many generations. Special attention was given to film adaptations of Sholokhov’s books — over 20 feature films have been made based on his works. 

Doctor of Philology, leading research fellow at the Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Dvoryashin emphasized Sholokhov’s unique ability to convey the spiritual qualities of the Russian people:

"Mikhail Sholokhov is an epic writer; his own fate, organically connected with the fate of the Russian people, is distinguished by scale and breadth. It seems to me that a conversation about M.A. Sholokhov today is absolutely necessary, especially for our modern youth, starting from school age. Familiarity with Sholokhov’s works, understanding their artistic originality and the deep essence of their imagery system allows readers of any age, but especially young ones, to understand what true human life is. Especially — what the genuine life of his people is, as well as that society which is both spiritually and physically close, and serves as a source of native values for every person," noted Yuri Dvoryashin.

Attention to Sholokhov’s work is especially important today for defining one’s personal stance in the modern world, said Sergei Sopelev, head of the civic-patriotic section of the Moscow branch of the Russian Military-Historical Society, historian, political scientist, and honourary doctor of the Academy of Labour and Industrial History. He also emphasised that the nature of genius is incomprehensible. 

In his childhood, Mikhail Sholokhov deeply immersed himself in the everyday life of the Don Cossacks, adopted their moral values, and formed his own worldview. This largely determined the strength of his artistic expression. Thus, experts concluded that genius is born not only through education but through a combination of intellectual and moral qualities.

"Sholokhov tells us who we are. If you delve into the writer’s work, you will feel what distinguishes our people — the phenomenon of the Russian national character. Today, there is a lot of information, and young people are simply drowning in it. Such fundamental things as Sholokhov’s work cannot be pushed into the background; without this, it is impossible to move forward," said Sergei Sopelev.

The National Centre RUSSIA is becoming a platform for reflecting on the cultural code of the nation. Literary events here are not just a tribute to the classics but an opportunity to understand the continuous connection between generations through their work.